Apparatus for producing sheet material



June 8, 1948. R. E. BARTON 2,442,945

APPARATUS FOR PROD CING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Aug. 8, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet1 REDUCTION QEAR eox INVENTOR. RmHA zo 588K711 BY (3mm $144M A TTORN EY.

June 8, 1948. R. E. BARTON 2,442,946

APPARATUS FOR I RODUCING' SHEET MATERIAL Filed Aug. 8, 1944 4Sheets-Sheerl 2 80 INVENTOR.

i- 9 1E BY prcflapp 64??"011/ @wwa A-TTORN E Y..

June 8, 1948.'

R. E. BARTON APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SHEET MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Aug. 8, 1944 INVENT OR. ARTOA/ 42.44414;

A TTORN E Y.

June s, 1948. R. E. BARTON 2,442,946

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Au 8, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4l l a 30 IO 7 f 1 l- 34 z j /a INVENTORQ film mm 64.971941 BY A TTORN EY.

Patented June 8, 1948 APPARATUS FOR; PRODUCING. SHEET MATERIAL Richard'E. Barton;-Maplewood,-N. J., assignor to Rope-Soles; Inc. New iyork, NY.', a corporatiOnofDeIaWaIe-r Application August. 8, 1944, Serial No.548,615

6 -Claims-. (Cl. '242-'-7-)" This invention relates to amachine or appaeratus for use in producing sheet material-formed of strips disposed inabutting side. by side' relation and adhesively secured to eachother insaid relation to formthe sheet.

As the sheet material of the present invention is intended primarily foruse in the manufacture of outsoles forshoes, said outsoles, beingof--thetype known as rope soles, the strips which-aresecured toeachother. in side: by side relation-in the sheet are formed ofbraidedrope or similar material. Rope soles and the sheet material forproducing the same are shown and describedin the United States patent toWilpan No. 2,315,759,- issued April 6, 1943. The present invention hasfor its primary objects the provision of-an eificient and commerciallypractical method of producing the sheet material of the constructiondisclosed in said patent, that is sheet-material irom'which rope solescan be produced --bydie-stamping or otherwise cutting the rope solestherefrom.=

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of theinventionwill-be fully understood from the following descriptionconsidered incomnection with the accompanying illustrative draw ings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a machine or apparatus embodying the presentinvention and is also illus-- trative of a step in the method ofthepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view ofsheet material producedinaccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a-sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the-line 4--4*0f Fig. 3;

Fig.5 is asectional view on'the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view onthe 'line 6B'of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the parts illustrated-in i 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of part of the apparatus;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the :line 9=-9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a plan sectional View on the line Ill- IB of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a side View of part of the apparatusand illustrates the feedof the strip'materiali Fig. 12 is a top plan view of strip-windingapparatus,- showing a modification; with-portions broken away for thepurposes of illustration;-

Fig. 13 is a detail view, on ,a larger scale',,of a

spring-operated roller. in the, modification, illus: trated in Fig. 12.

In'accordance with-the method of the present invention, the sheetmaterial.S,"which,is similar, to the sheet materialdescrib'ed andillustrated in,

the above mentioned patent and comprises a pl.u.

ralityof latex coated or "impregnated strips It i of braided rope orsimilar material, is produced by-wi-nding a length-ofysaid material;slitting or cutting through-said'winding along one, or more lines,-- sothat the winding can befia-ttened or formed into a sheet from-which the,outsole blanks B can be die-stamped orcutas-indicated indotted linesinFig. 2. The windingis indicated-at W in-Flg. l and, asherei-nbefore moreparticularly;

described; is preferably formed onthe hollowcylindrical drum I 2 of theapparatus embodying the-present invention. As illustrated inFigsd and3said druml-Z isprov-ided with-one or moreslots,- here shown as twodiametrica-l opposed slots I4,- extending longitudinally of the-drum -sothatthe winding W canbe-slitaccordingly to facilitate the removal of the-winding-from;the drum and to allow the-winding to -be flattenedintoone'or more sheets S5 Thus, inaccordance-withthe method-ofthepresent invention; alengthof the strip material is first coated:orimpregnated'with latex orany- "other suitable adhesive- (latexbeingpreferred) thenthe strip "material is formedinto a windingin-which-the adjacent-turns are adhesivelysecured inface to racerelation: then said winding is cut and formed into one or more sheetsin-which-- the strips--are disposed-inside -by side relation;

Duri-ngthe winding of the strip-material. pressure is applied tothematerial as it is wound around the drum so that the successive turns ofthe ma- A terial-in-the winding-are pressedagainst each other in face toface abutting relation-and are adhered toeaoh othE-rin said relation bythe-latex or other adhesive with -which'the strip materialiscoated orimpregnated: Thestrip material is wound as hereinafter more particularlydescribed-sothat the-thickness of the-sheet-is' determined by the width-of the strip material.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the braided rope IBA (orother strip material)corresponding-"to the strips -l0-of sheet-'S -(Fig.--2) is suppliedtothe drum 1 2 tangentially thereof the leading end of said lengthofrope beingsecuredin any-suitable Way to the-drum'at the-lower endthereof, as bytying or otherwise fasteningsaidleading end-of I the ropeto=a pinor lug46-fixed to the drum=near the'loWer-endthereof. The=rope-l0A is coated or impregnated with a suitable adhesive preferablylatex, and while the rope is being wound around the drum in helicalformation thereon, pressure is applied to the rope as it is laid inposition around the drum, as the drum rotates, whereby the successiveturns of the rope winding are adhesively secured to each otherinabutting face to face relation. It will be understood that the latex orother adhesive coated or impregnated rope IDA is wound on the drum whilethe latex or adhesive is in non-dried, that is, in moist or tackycondition, and that the winding formed from said rope is removed fromthe drum before the adhesive sets sufficiently to cause the winding toadhere to the drum. Ifdesired, the surface of the drum can be coatedwith a substance, for example, chalk, to prevent the strip material fromadhering to the drum.

The rotary drum I2, which is hollow as illustrated, can be of anysuitable construction and as here shown is mounted in vertical positionfor rotation on a base ID 'of any suitable construction. The bottom 20of the drum is provided with a central bearing-trunnion 22 which isjournalled for rotation in the bearing 24 fixed to base I8. The drum isfurther supported for rotation on base I8 by a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced casters or wheels 26 mounted on base I8 andengaged by a flat circular plate 28 fixed to the bottom 20 of the drum.Said bottom 20 of the drum is provided with a gear 30 which meshes withand is driven by a gear 32 rotated in any suitable way as by an electricmotor M through reduction gearing 34.

Provision is made for guiding the length of rope or other narrow stripmaterial IDA to the drum, for laying said material in successive turnsaround said drum along the length thereof, while the drum rotates, andfor pressing said turns.

against each other in the direction of the length of the drum. The meansprovided for these purposes comprises a collar member 36 which surroundsthe drum and which is movable longitudinally of said drum by thematerial as the latter is wound around the drum in successive turnslongitudinally of the drum as just stated. Said collar member 36 is heldagainst turning in the direction of winding rotation of the drum, thatis in the direction of arrow A, by a pin '38 which engages a rod 40which is fixed to base I8 in upstanding relation thereto. It will beunderstood that as collar 36 is moved longitudinally of drum I2, pin 38slidably engages rod 40 and moves longitudinally thereof. Collar member36 is preferably formed of channel iron stock and, as shown, the innerperipheral edges of the opposed side walls 42 and 44 thereof lie closeto the outer peripheral surface of the drum with a slight clearance. Aflanged roller 46 is mounted for rotation in collar member 36 at thepoint where the strip materia1 IDA is supplied to the drum. Said roller46 is mounted for rotation on the shank 48 of a shouldered bolt which isfastened by a nut 56 to the end wall 52 of collar member 36. Preferablyas here shown, an anti-friction member such as a roller 54 is providednear the flanged roller 46.

As illustrated in Fig. 11, the strip material passes over saidanti-friction roller 54, into the opening 56 in the side wall 42 andunder the flanged roller 46 through the opening 51 in the other sidewall 44 of collar member 36. A plurality of circumferentially spacedrollers 58 are carried by collar member 36 and are mounted for rotationtherein on the shanks 60 of companion shoulder bolts which are securedto the end wall 52 of the collar member by nuts 62. As shown, rollers 46and 58 project through openings in side wall 44 of the collar member andengage the strip material IDA for applying pressure thereto, in adirection extending longitudinally of the drum for pressing thesuccessive turns of the strip material against each other in abuttingface to face relation while the material is being wound on the drum. Thepressur thus applied to the strip material by the rollers 46 and 58 isderived from the weight of collar member 36 and said rollers which aremounted thereon. It will be understood, however, that if desiredadditional pressure can be obtained by means of weights fixed toorsuspended from collar member 36 at circumferentially spaced points, butordinarily sufficient pressure is provide by the weight of collar member36 the rollers mounted thereon.

As shown, the apparatus is also provided with means for applyingpressure to the strip material IDA edgewise thereof and radiallyinwardly toward the drum during the winding of said strip material. Forthis purpose there are provided the rollers 64 which are disposed atdiametrically opposite points of collar member 36 and correspondinglydiametrically opposite points of drum I2. Rollers .64 are mounted inposition by means of brackets 66 which are fixed to the end wall 52 ofthe collar member (Fig. 6). Each roller 62 is mounted for rotation onthe shank 68 of a shouldered bolt which is secured to the companionbracket 66 by a nut ID. Bracket 66 is provided with a slot I2 in whichthe narrower part I4 of the bolt shank is adjustable whereby to providefor the adjustment of roller 64 in relation to the confronting edge ofthe strip material IDA. It will be understood that each roller 64 ispositioned in such spaced relation to the outer peripheral surface ofthe drum I2 as to exert pressure on the edge of the strip material whilethe drum rotates for forming the winding thereon. It will be noted thatthe strip material IDA of the winding W is of greater width thanthickness and that said strip material is disposed with the narrowerdimension or edge thereof against the drum, the wider dimension or faceof the strip material lying in a plane transverse to the drum axis.Accordingly, after the winding is cut and removed from the drum andflattened into the sheet S, the strips ID formed from the strip materialIDA are disposed in the sheet in such relation that the thickness of thesheet corresponds to the wider dimension or face of the strip material.It will be understood, however, that the strip material may bedifferently dimensioned as to its width and thickness as well as inrespect to its structure and cross sectional shape or peripheralcontour. Although the drum may be of any suitable diameter and of anysuitable length, it may be stated by way of illustration, but withoutlimitation, that in apparatus constructed and operated in accordancewith the present invention and in the practice thereof, drums 5 ft. indiameter and 5% ft. long have been used with great practical advantage.When the windings formed on such drums are removed therefrom, followingthe slitting of the winding at the slots I4, that is along linesextending parallel to the axis of the drum and transversely of theabutting face of the turns of the winding, two sheets or mats ofmaterial of the construction illustrated in Fig. 2 are produced, eachsheet having a length of about 8 ft. measured in the direction of thelength of the strips ID and a 2,442ge4e widthlcorresponding to theextent of the winding longitudinally of the drum; the maximum width ofsaidsheet on a drum of'theabove mentioned length about 5- ft. being ofcourse'equal to-about the length of the drum when as in actual practice,the winding extends for about the full length of the drum. Accordingly,the sheet material is produced in the form of comparative large mats orsheets from which a large number of rope sole blanks can b formed by diestamping or cutting thesame as described above. It will be observed thatas the drum is of large diameter in relation to the thickness of thestrip material, the pitch of the helical winding is low whereby thesheet or sheets produced from the winding are substantially ofrectangular outline.

Instead of winding the strip material MA helically about a drum with thesuccessive turns of the winding disposed longitudinally of the drum,which is the preferred mode of winding in practicing this invention, thestrip material IQA can be wound spirally to form a winding WI asillustrated in Fig. 12. Thus as here shown, the strip material IBA iswound around a circular form or short drum [2A on a flat supportingplate 14. After the winding W I is formed it is slit along the radiallyextending lines as indicated at 78 and after the slit winding is removedfrom the drum I2A, said winding is formed into a flat mat or sheet byspreading the cut ends of the slit winding away from each other untilthe strips are disposed in rectilinear relation thus forming a sheetsimilar to the sheet S illustrated in Fig. 2. It will be noted that inthis case the wider dimension of the face or faces of the strips extendaxially of the drum instead of at right angles to the drum as in thecase of the winding formed on the drum It]. A series ofcircumferentially spaced spring-pressed rollers 76 can be provided informing the winding W! for pressing the turns of the winding againsteach other while the winding is being formed. Further it will beunderstood that the drum !2A, which is preferably rotatable is of adiameter sufiiciently large to provide the winding W! with a largeradius of curvature so that after the winding is slit it can be bentinto rectilinear form without distortion or relative displacement of thestrips in the resulting sheet. Drum I2A can be rotated by an electricmotor or in any suitable way, and if desired a plurality of said drumscan be arranged in tandem or end to end, together with companion rollers75, so that a plurality of windings WI can be produced simultaneously.As illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, plate 14 is provided with a pluralityof longitudinal slots 80 in which the pin bearings 32 on which rollers1E5 are rotatable are movable by the companion tension springs 84 as thewindin expands. One end of each spring 84 is fixed to a companion pin 82and the opposite end of the spring is fixed to plate id at the adjacentend of the companion slot 80.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the apparatusand method without departing from the underlying idea of the inventionwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising means for forming awinding from a length of strip material with the turns of the winding inabutting relation, said means comprising a vertically positioned drummounted for rotation about its vertical axis, and pressure-applyingmeans surrounding said drum and positione'd" horizontally to pressthesuccessive turns of the winding'against each other in said relation,said pressureapplyingmeans being- 'movable axially of the drum, againstthe action of gravity, by the engagement therewith of the strip materialas the latter is being wound around the drum.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a rotary winding-drumfor winding a strip of material into a winding having its turns disposedin side by side relation longitudinally of the drum, and means forpressing the successive turns 'of the winding againstyeach other in thedirection of the length of the drum, said pressureapplying meanscomprising a member surrounding said drum and movable longitudinallythereof and a plurality of rollers carried by said member and engageablewith portions of the strip in pressure-applying relation thereto.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising a rotary winding-drumfor winding a strip of material into a winding having its turns disposedin side by side relation longitudinally of the drum, and means forpressing the successive turns of the winding against each other in thedirection 0f the length of the drum, said pressure-applying meanscomprising a member surrounding said drum and movable longitudinallythereof and a plurality of rollers carried by said member and engageablewith portions of the strip in pressure-applying relation thereto, andmeans for preventing turning movement of said longitudinally movablemember in the direction of strip-winding rotation of said drum.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a rotarywinding-drum, a collar surrounding said drum and mounted for movementlongitudinally of the drum while held against turning movement in thedirection of wind of the drum, means carried by said collar and movabletherewith for guiding a length of narrow strip material to said drum andfor laying said material in suc cessive turns around said drum along thelength thereof, and means carried by said collar for pressing said turnsagainst each other in the direction of the length of the drum.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a rotarywinding-drum, a collar surrounding said drum and mounted for movementlongitudinally of the drum while held against turning movement in thedirection of wind of the drum, means carried by said collar and movabletherewith for guiding a length of narrow strip material to said drum andfor laying said material in successive turns around said drum along thelength thereof, and roller means carried by said collar for applyingpressure to the material as it is wound on the drum, said roller meansacting on said material in the direction of the length of the drum forpressing the turns against each other.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a rotary drumdisposed in vertical position and rotatable about a vertical axis, meansmovable longitudinally of said drum for guiding a length of narrow stripmaterial to said drum and for laying said material in successive turnsaround said drum along the length thereof, means surrounding said drumand acting longitudinally of said drum for pressing said turns againsteach other in the direction of the length of the drum, said pressingmeans being movable axially of the drum, against the action of gravity,by the engagement therewith of the strip material as the latter is beingwound around the drum, and means 7 operable while said material isVwoundon the drum for exerting pressure on the edge of said material onthe drum in a direction radially inwardly of said drum. 1

RICHARD E. BARTON. 7

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Howard Nov. 15, 1881 Number Number 10Nurnber Name Date 7 Stevens Apr. 16, 1895 Getty July 7, 1908 Wayne Aug.14, 1923 Kmentt Mar. 6, 1928 Frank June 26, 1928 Hogan Oct. 8, 1929FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Mar. 9, 1926

